cheaptickets.com consumer Internet ripoff scam
We bought two airline tickets on the phone (not internet) with cheaptickets.com The airline they offered is TRANSAIR. The plane broke down and we lost our vacation, our flight, and $550. Transair would have gladly refunded us the $550, but told us we needd to go through our travel agent (cheaptickets.com)We called them, and they refused to reimburse, stating: "It's not our fault that the plane broke down. We contacted AMEX for a refund and filed a complaint, but AMEX said that the internet ticket agents don't provide refunds.
Edward
White Plains, New York
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Richard
Kirkland,Washington,
U.S.A.
CT "E-Tickets" have no value
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, December 31, 2004
This is really a rebuttal of the consumer suggestion which apears under this ripoffreport.
It is not just a "communication problem." The problem with the suggestion is that Cheap Tickets does not issue real airline e-tickets.
Cheap tickets has bulk purchase agreements with the airline (their term and I have no way of knowing what those agreements really are.) If you go to the airline and ask you will find that the airline will not or cannot identify a value for the so-called e-ticket. They may say they do not know yet or that they will not know until you have actually flown on the flight designated, but in reality they will never "know." So cheap tickets would not be refunding the airline's money since they still have all the money and they would be refunding you their money which they have no interest in doing.
Joe
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Miscommunication is the problem...I can help
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 19, 2002
I'm a corporate travel agent with over 9 years experience. 5 with an airline, and 4 with an agency. From reading your above report, it really sounds like you had a rough time. I think I can help you get your money back.
First, you have to think in terms of "ownership." The agency is just a representative for the airline. The paper or electronic ticket acutally belongs to the airline. However since the online agency sold you the ticket, they're usually the one to process the refund. The actual airline is who refunds the ticket, though. Try the agency again.
Tell them you don't want THEM to refund the money, just to handle getting the refund from the airline. They SHOULD be willing to do that. If not, you can call the airline direct and they can refund or help you to reschedule. Since it was due to aircraft maintenance, they should have no problem.
You don't HAVE TO go through the agency, though. Since the ticket "belongs" to the airline, they can help. If you've got the ticket number, that should be all they need. Good Luck!
Joe
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Miscommunication is the problem...I can help
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 19, 2002
I'm a corporate travel agent with over 9 years experience. 5 with an airline, and 4 with an agency. From reading your above report, it really sounds like you had a rough time. I think I can help you get your money back.
First, you have to think in terms of "ownership." The agency is just a representative for the airline. The paper or electronic ticket acutally belongs to the airline. However since the online agency sold you the ticket, they're usually the one to process the refund. The actual airline is who refunds the ticket, though. Try the agency again.
Tell them you don't want THEM to refund the money, just to handle getting the refund from the airline. They SHOULD be willing to do that. If not, you can call the airline direct and they can refund or help you to reschedule. Since it was due to aircraft maintenance, they should have no problem.
You don't HAVE TO go through the agency, though. Since the ticket "belongs" to the airline, they can help. If you've got the ticket number, that should be all they need. Good Luck!
Joe
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Miscommunication is the problem...I can help
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 19, 2002
I'm a corporate travel agent with over 9 years experience. 5 with an airline, and 4 with an agency. From reading your above report, it really sounds like you had a rough time. I think I can help you get your money back.
First, you have to think in terms of "ownership." The agency is just a representative for the airline. The paper or electronic ticket acutally belongs to the airline. However since the online agency sold you the ticket, they're usually the one to process the refund. The actual airline is who refunds the ticket, though. Try the agency again.
Tell them you don't want THEM to refund the money, just to handle getting the refund from the airline. They SHOULD be willing to do that. If not, you can call the airline direct and they can refund or help you to reschedule. Since it was due to aircraft maintenance, they should have no problem.
You don't HAVE TO go through the agency, though. Since the ticket "belongs" to the airline, they can help. If you've got the ticket number, that should be all they need. Good Luck!
Joe
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Miscommunication is the problem...I can help
#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 19, 2002
I'm a corporate travel agent with over 9 years experience. 5 with an airline, and 4 with an agency. From reading your above report, it really sounds like you had a rough time. I think I can help you get your money back.
First, you have to think in terms of "ownership." The agency is just a representative for the airline. The paper or electronic ticket acutally belongs to the airline. However since the online agency sold you the ticket, they're usually the one to process the refund. The actual airline is who refunds the ticket, though. Try the agency again.
Tell them you don't want THEM to refund the money, just to handle getting the refund from the airline. They SHOULD be willing to do that. If not, you can call the airline direct and they can refund or help you to reschedule. Since it was due to aircraft maintenance, they should have no problem.
You don't HAVE TO go through the agency, though. Since the ticket "belongs" to the airline, they can help. If you've got the ticket number, that should be all they need. Good Luck!